CHAPTER VII.
THE PRETTY MUSICIAN.
About seven o"clock on the evening of the same day on which M. de Maillefort"s duel took place, and just as the sun was beginning to vanish from sight in a bank of dark clouds that indicated a stormy night,--for occasional big drops of rain were already falling,--a young girl was crossing the Place de la Concorde, in the direction of the Faubourg Ste. Honore.
This girl carried under her left arm two large music books whose shabby bindings attested to long and faithful service; in her right hand she held a small umbrella. Her attire, which was modest in the extreme, consisted of a plain black silk dress with a small mantle of the same material, and, though the spring was already far advanced, she wore on her head a gray felt hat tied under the chin with broad ribbons of the same quiet hue. A few soft, curling tresses of golden hair, which the wind had loosened from their confinement, caressed her low, broad forehead, and made a lovely frame for her sweet, youthful face, which wore an expression of profound sadness, but which was also instinct with refinement, modesty, and quiet dignity. This same natural dignity manifested itself in the thoughtful and rather proud expression of the girl"s large blue eyes. Her bearing was graceful and distinguished, and though her mantle concealed her figure, one instinctively felt that it was not only lithe, but perfect in contour, for her garments were worn with such an air of distinction that one forgot their shabbiness.
As she lifted her dress slightly in crossing a gutter, a pretty foot, clad in a neat, well-fitting, though rather thick-soled shoe, was disclosed to view, and one also caught a glimpse of a petticoat of dazzling whiteness, edged with a narrow lace-trimmed ruffle.
At the corner of the Rue des Champs elysees, a beggar woman, with a child in her arms, addressed a few words to her in an imploring voice, whereupon the girl paused, and after a moment"s embarra.s.sment,--for having both hands occupied, one with her music books and the other with her umbrella, she could not get at her pocket,--she solved the difficulty by confiding the music books temporarily to the poor woman"s care, and transferring her umbrella to her other hand. This done, the girl drew out her purse, which contained barely four francs in small change, and, taking from it a two sous piece, said hurriedly, but in tones of entrancing sweetness:
"Forgive me, good mother, forgive me for being unable to offer you more."
Then, with a compa.s.sionate glance at the pale face of the infant which the woman was pressing to her breast, she added:
"Poor little thing! May G.o.d preserve it to you!" Then resuming possession of her music books, and casting another glance of tender commiseration on the poor creatures, she continued on her way down the Champs elysees.
We have dwelt upon the apparently trivial details of this act of charity, merely because they seem to us so significant. The gift, though trifling in value, had not been given haughtily or thoughtlessly; nor was the young girl content with dropping a bit of money into the outstretched hand. There was also another circ.u.mstance which, though trivial, was highly significant: the young girl had removed her glove before proffering her alms--as she would have done before touching the hand of a friend and equal.
It so happened that M. de Ravil, who had just escorted his wounded friend to his home on the Rue de Madeleine, met the young girl on the pavement of the Rue des Champs elysees, and, struck by her beauty and by the distinguished bearing which contrasted so strongly with the excessive plainness of her attire, he paused a moment directly in front of her and eyed her cynically, then, as she walked quickly on, he turned and followed her.
As she turned into the Rue de l"Arcade, a street little frequented at that hour of the day, he quickened his pace, and, overtaking the fair unknown, said, insolently:
"Mademoiselle gives music lessons, I judge? Will she be kind enough to come and give me one--at my house?"
As he spoke he laid his hand upon the arm of the girl, who turned quickly with a faint cry; then, though her cheeks were crimson with terror and emotion, she cast such a look of withering scorn on Ravil that, in spite of his natural impudence, his eyes fell, and bowing low before the unknown with an air of ironical deference, he said:
"Pardon me, madame la princesse, I was mistaken in the person."
The girl continued on her way, forcing herself to walk quietly in spite of her painful anxiety, for the house to which she going was only a short distance off now.
"All the same, I intend to follow her and see who this shabbily dressed girl who gives herself the airs of a d.u.c.h.ess is," Ravil said to himself.
The comparison was an eminently just one, though he did not know it, for Herminie--that was the girl"s name; in fact, being a foundling, she had no other--for Herminie was indeed a d.u.c.h.ess, if one means by that word a charming combination of beauty, grace, and natural refinement, accompanied by that indomitable pride which is inherent in every fastidious and sensitive nature.
It has been truly said that many d.u.c.h.esses, both as regards appearance and instincts, were born _lorettes_; while, on the other hand, many poor creatures of the most obscure origin were born d.u.c.h.esses.
Herminie herself was certainly a living example of the truth of this a.s.sertion, for the friends she had made in her humble role of singing and piano teacher always called her the d.u.c.h.ess,--a few from jealousy, for even the most generous and una.s.suming of people have their detractors, others, on the contrary, because the term best expressed the impression Herminie"s manner and appearance made upon them. It is hardly necessary to say that the young lady in question was no other than the d.u.c.h.ess of whom Olivier had made frequent mention during the dinner at Commander Bernard"s house.
Herminie, still closely followed by Ravil, soon left the Rue de l"Arcade for the Rue d"Anjou, where she entered an imposing mansion, thus escaping the annoying pursuit of that cynical personage.
"How strange!" he exclaimed, pausing a few yards off. "Why the devil is that girl going into the Hotel de Beaumesnil with her music books under her arm. She certainly cannot live there."
Then, after a moment"s reflection, he added, "But now I think of it, this must be the female David who is trying to a.s.suage Madame de Beaumesnil"s sufferings by the charm of her music. That lady might well be likened to good King Saul by reason of her great wealth, which will all go to that young girl in whom my friend Mornand already feels such an interest. As for me, that pretty musician who has just entered the home of the countess suits my fancy. I mean to wait until she comes out, for I must find out where she lives."
The expression of melancholy on Herminie"s charming face deepened as she crossed the threshold, and, pa.s.sing the porter without speaking, as any member of the household might have done, entered the magnificent hall of this sumptuous abode.
It was still daylight, but the entire lower floor was brilliantly lighted. As she noted this fact, her surprise changed to anguish, which increased when she saw none of the footmen who were usually in attendance.
A profound stillness pervaded the mansion as the young girl, with her heart throbbing almost to bursting, mounted the handsome stairway to a broad landing, which commanded a view of a long line of large and magnificently furnished apartments.
These rooms, too, were brilliantly lighted but also deserted, and the pale light of the candles, contending with the glowing rays of the setting sun, produced a very strange and most unnatural effect.
Herminie, unable to account for the poignant anxiety to which she was a prey, hurried breathlessly on through several rooms, then paused suddenly.
It seemed to her that she could hear stifled sobs in the distance.
At last she reached a door leading into a long picture-gallery, and at the farther end of this gallery Herminie saw all the inmates of the mansion kneeling just outside the threshold of an open door.
A terrible presentiment seized the young girl. When she left Madame de Beaumesnil the evening before, that lady was alarmingly, though not hopelessly ill; but now, these lights, this lugubrious silence, broken only by smothered sobs, indicated beyond a doubt that Madame de Beaumesnil was receiving the last sacrament.
The young girl, overcome with grief and terror, felt that her strength was deserting her, and instinctively clutched at one of the consoles for support; then, endeavouring to conceal her emotion and her tears, again hastened on with tottering steps towards the group of servants in the open doorway of Madame de Beaumesnil"s chamber, and knelt there in the midst of them.
CHAPTER VIII.
THE UNHAPPY SECRET.
Through the open doorway before which Herminie had just knelt, she could see by the wan light of an alabaster lamp Madame de Beaumesnil, a woman only about thirty-eight years of age, but frightfully pale and emaciated. The countess, who was sitting up in bed, supported by pillows, had her hands clasped devoutly. Her features, once of rare beauty, were drawn and haggard, her large eyes, formerly of a clear, bright blue, had lost their l.u.s.tre, though they were riveted with mingled anxiety and anguish upon the face of Abbe Ledoux, her parish priest, who had just administered the last sacrament.
A minute before Herminie"s arrival, Madame de Beaumesnil, lowering her voice still more, though weakness and suffering had already reduced it to little more than a faint whisper, had said to the priest:
"Ah, my father, forgive me, but even at this solemn hour I cannot help thinking with even more bitterness of heart of that poor child,--my other daughter,--the unhappy fruit of a sin which has burdened my life with the most poignant remorse."
"Hush, madame," replied the priest, who, as he cast a furtive glance at the kneeling servants, had just seen Herminie take her place in their midst; "hush, madame, she is here."
"She is?"
"Yes, she came in a moment ago, and is now kneeling with your people."
As he spoke, the priest turned and walked towards the door to close it, after having first intimated by a gesture that the sad ceremony was over.
"I remember now--that yesterday--when Herminie left me--I begged her to return to-day at this very hour. The physician was right,--the angelic voice of the dear child, her tender melodies, have often a.s.suaged my sufferings."
"Take care, madame. Be more prudent, I beg of you," pleaded the priest, alone now with the invalid.
"Oh, I am. My daughter suspects nothing," answered Madame de Beaumesnil, with a bitter smile.
"That is quite probable," said the priest, "for it was only chance, or, rather, the inscrutable will of Providence, that brought this young woman to your notice a short time ago. Doubtless it is the Saviour"s will that you should be subjected to a still harder test."
"Hard, indeed, my father, since I shall be obliged to depart from this life without ever having said "my daughter" to this unfortunate girl.